Flexible pipe-joint.



No. 859,426. PATENTED JULY 9, 1907. P. M. BBTZ.

, FLEXIBLE PIPE JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED DOT. 10, 1906.

[III lllll l mums I 7 WW0 FREDERICK M. BETZ,

s rens: OFFICE.

OF HAMILTON, OHTO.

FLEXIBLE PIPE-J OIN T.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed October 10,1906. SerialNo. 332,274.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. Bn'rz, a citizen of j the United States, residing at Hamilton, Ohio,- have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible PipeJoints, of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to flexible pipe joints of the class adapted to use on rotative steam driers or elsewhere, and the objects of my'improvement are to pro vide means for a stationary steam pipe to form an angle with the axis of the rotative member; to provide means for yieldingly maintaining the joint closed; to provide adjustable means'lor the escape of steam through the joint at predetermined pressures that it may serve for elficient structure.

embodying myimprovements.

a safety valve; to provide means for lubricating the moving parts to provide an exit for the condensed steam, and to provide a simple, compact, durable and These objects are attained in the following described manner as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:The figure shows a longitudinal diametrical-section of a flexible pipe joint Q In the drawings, l..represents the rotative member of a steam pipe attached to the end of hollow journal 2 of a rotative cylindrical drier 3 and provided with a hollow sphere or ball 4 on its front end. Sleeve 5 en circles the ball 4 without contact therewith, and is provided with a rear socket 6 which encircles member 1 of the pipe without contact and contains a ring 7 of preierably vulcanized fiber packing for movable contact withrthe rear portionof the ball. Said sleeve is provided with a lubricating cup 8 and with a depending drip or steam discharge pipe 9. g

.The stationarymember 11 olthe steam pipe is pro- 4 is movably seated and preferably ground to form a steam tight joint. Said socket is provided with cars 13 which are longitudinally movable in grooves 14 formed'in the sleeve to keep from turning therein. A hand wheel 15 turns on the member 11 of the pipe and is adjustably threaded in the front end of sleeve 5.

.A helical compression spring 16 encircles member ll of the pipe within'sleeve 5 between socket 12 and the hand wheel and serves yieldingly maintain said socket in contact with the ball. The exertion of said spring may be regulated as desired by means of the hand wheel for the escape of steam through the joint and the discharge pipe 9 at any desired predetermined pressure and permits the joint to serve for a safety valve to prevent the explosion of the drier. The usual siphon pipe 17 may be extended through the steam pipe and the joint therein for the discharge of the condensed steamfrom the drier. I In operation the stationary member of the steam pipe may form an angle with the rotative member tain the sockets in clamping-contact with the ball.

thereof. The pressure of the steam partially counteracting the force of the helical spring relieves the front of the hand wheel will be overcome and the front socket will be forced irom contact with the ball for the escape of the steam through the drip'or discharge pipe. Either or both of the sockets may be ground to fit the ,ball or v l provided with packing rings as desired.

Having fully described my improvement, what I claim'as my invention anddesire to secure by Letters .Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination of a rotative pipe provided with a hollow ball, a stationary pipe in approximate alinement therewith and provided with 'a socket wherein the ball is movably seated, a sleeve provided" with a socket which loosely encircles the rotatlve pipe, a packing ring interposed therebetween and the ball, a. helical spring encircling the stationary pipe in contactwith the' socket thereon, and means adjustable in the'sleeve for controlling the yield ing exertion of the spring in mainta contact with the ball.

ining said socket in- 2. The combination of a rotatlve pipe provided with a hollow ball on one end, a sleeve loosely encircling the ball and provided with a socket loosely encircling said pipe, a stationary pipe provided with a socket on one end adapt ed to contact with the opposite face of the ball, means adjustable in said sleeve for yieldingly maintaining said sockets in clamping contact with the ball .under predetermined pressures and a steam dlschargeopening in the sleeve between said sockets.

The combination of a pipe provided with a ball-on one end, a sleeve inclosing said ball and provided with a discharge opening, sockets supported thereby and adjust' able means for yieldingly maintaining said sockets in con-' r tat th "te rt of the b ll" de e videcl with a socket 12 on its rear end wheremthe ball c op P0 mus a r aimed ter mined pressure.

.4. The combination of a pipe consisting of a rotatlve and' a stationary member in approximate alinement, a spherical bearing formed on one of said members, a'socket therefor formed on the other saidmember, a sleeve-loosely euclr cling said bearing and provided with a discharge opening, a socket formed thereon and loosely encirclingsaid former member, a packing ring interposed therebtween and the ball,and means adjustable in the sleeve for maintaining said sockets in clamping contact with the ball under a predetermined pressure. 5; The combination of a pipe provided. witha ball on one end, a sleeve provided with a lateral discharge opening and with a socket in one end loosely encircling the pipe, a socket movable within the sleeve, andadjustable means for yieldlngly clamping the ball between the sockets.-

6. Aflexible pipe joint having in combination a ball,

sockets-therefor and adjustable means provided with a discharge opening between the sockets and adapted to main- FREDERICK M. BETZ.

Witnesses: P. L. Bnocrmnn'i, M. HAMILL. 

